Revolver-frame clamp.



J. 1L wEssoN. REVOLVER FRAME CLAMP.

APPLIUATION FILED` MAY 8, 1907.

923,915, L Patented June 8,1909.

l m www unirsi) sTATnis PATENT canton.

JOSEPH H. WESSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH &WESSON, INCORPORATED, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION.

REVOLVER-FRAME CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. VVESsoN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inRevolver-Frame Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates primarily to the construction of revolvers, andhas special reference to a work-holding device and the method of usingthe same, by means of which certain operations on the unfinished frameof a revolver may be made in a manner which insures great accuracy, theconstruction and use of the device permitting the convenient gaging ofthe work as it progresses; the essential novelty of the device residingin the embodiment therein of means whereby two rectangular base lines inthe frame shall be used together to determine the posit-ion of the frameduring successive operations thereon, whereby every cut made in theframe, or every hole bored therein, shall be made with relation to thesebase lines, the work-holding `device being so constructed as to permitthe easy removal and reclamping of t-he frame therein in exactly thesame position as before relative both to the horizontal and the verticalplane.

Heretofore it has-generally been the practice to use work-holdingdevices for revolverframes, in which the latter is clamped in anyconvenient way without reference to the use of the same base forsuccessive operations, and therefore it has been necessary that theworkman should use the utmost care in adjusting the frame in its holdingdevice, and as it is necessary to remove and replace the frame a numberof times, it is clear that the chances for error are greatly multipliedin the absence of means to invariably adjust it relative to tworectangularly disposed bases, such as are used in the method and meansdescribed herein.

The invention has been fully illustrated in the drawings forming part ofthe specification, in which,-

Figure l is a side elevation of a workholding device in which theinvention has been embodied in its preferred form. Fig. 2 is a lan viewof the same showing in dotted lines the frame of a revolver in itsproper position therein. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the actualclamping elements of the device removed from their base or support, onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the clampingelements removed from theirbase or support.

Referring now to the drawings, a (Figs. 1 and '2) indicates a base-plateon which are secured (or which may be integral therewith) two blocks l)and o of equal height or thickness, and so disposed as to leave a spaceor groove Z between them. If desired, these blocks may be in one piecewith the groove d cut therein. These blocks, together with thebase-plate, are planed off true, the upper surface of the blocks and thebottom of the plate being parallel. The Lipper surface of the blocks band o supports the frame f, the latter being milled oft' on both sidesas a preliminary operation, the recoil-plate g being located in thegroove between the blocks when the frame is in a position ready forclamping. Another operation performed on the frame preparatory to thosewhich are made thereon by means of the clamping device, is the cuttingof the rectangular cylinder-opening It, and two adjoining sides of theopening are the ones which are preferably used as the base-lines fromwhich all the work on the frame is laid out for such operations as areperformed thereon while the frame is secured in the work-holding deviceor clamp. These base-lines are indicated by o and m.

The clamping devices proper consist of the two blocks o and p the formerbeing ixed to the block o and the latter having a sliding movement onthe block c toward and' from the fixed clamp-block o, the latter and themovable block p being triangular in form and constituting, when inproper relative position, a diagonally divided rectangular structure,the movable part of which (the block p) is diagonally movable relativeto the fixed block 0, in a line at right angles to the line of divisionbetween the two blocks. The said movement of said loose block y?relative to the block 0 is effected by a right and left-hand screw qthreaded into each of the blocks quite loosely to the end that the blockp (when forced into the angle of the cylinder-opening opposite thecorner formed by the sides 7e and 71%,) will readily find its seatwithout binding the screw Q.

Preferably, the blocks o and j? are made with the narrow fiat rib rrunning circum- IOO ferentially around the outer edges thereof, this ribconstituting the actual bearing surface of the blocks against theborder' of the i cylinder opening. By thus narrowing the contact surfacebetween the blocks and the border of the cylinder opening, thepossibility of throwing the frame out of position horizontally when itis being secured in the holding device is practically eliminated. If theentire surface of the edge of the blocks 0 and p should bear on theborder of the cylinder opening, the slightest variation in the plane ofsaid borders would cause the frame to be rocked or tipped on the blocksb and c (on which it rests loosely until clamped) when the clampingdevice is operated; but, as stated, by narrowing this bearing surface asdescribed so that the bearing point extends but a relatively shortdistance each side of the central longitudinal plane of the frame,possible disturbance of thel frame during the clamping operation iseliminated.

The preferred manner of actuating the screw g is to enlarge the centralportion thereof between the blocks o and p, as shown at s, and drillsome holes therein to permit the turning of the screw by means of a pin,whereby the block p may be set up firmly to its seat in the angle of thecylinder opening. Obviously, the making of the screw g with a right andleft-hand thread is merely for the purpose of attaining a quickeradjustment of the clamping device than would be possible were only oneend of the screw g threaded into one of the blocks, o, p, and the otherend provided with a rotative bearing on the other block.

What I claim, is :h

l. A work-holding device for vrevolver l frames consisting of abase-piece, a fixed block and a movable block, together constituting arectangular structure to fit the I cylinderopening in a revolver frame,and means interposed between the blocks to force the movable block awayfrom the fixed block l to grip the frame at opposite points in saidcylinder opening, the fixed block being permanently secured to thebase-piece.

2. A holding device for revolver frames having the following elements; abase-plate, right angular shaped blocks permanently secured thereto andspaced from each other, one of the blocks being a fixed block and theother a movable block mounted thereon, means interposed in the spacebetween the blocks and engaging' said last named blocks for operatingthe movable block relative to the fixed one, whereby when thecylinderopening in a revolver frame is brought info engagementwith saidfixed and movable blocks the frame will be clamped, and at the same timesecured to the base-plate, as described.

3. A holding device for revolver frames comprising the followingelements: a bascplate, right-angular shaped blocks secured thereto andof equal height or thickness, means interposed between the blocks forlaterally spacing one block from the other, whereby when the cylinderopening of a revolver-frame is brought into engagement with the blocks,the frame will be secured to the base-plate, the laterally spacing meanscomprising a right and left-handed thread engaging threaded openings inthe rightangular shaped blocks, and located in the spacing between theblocks.

4E. A work-holding device for revolver frames having a fixed block and amovable block, together constituting' a rectangular structure to fit thecylinder opening in a revolver frame, the fixed and movable blocksbeing' circumferentially provided with. a narrow rib to engage the wallportion of said opening, means interposed between the blocks to forcethe movable block away from the fixed block to uniformly grip the framein the cylinder, whereby any movement of the frame in a horizintal planeis eliminated, the fixed block being secured to a permanent structure orbase-plate, the rib being located at equal distances from the top andbottom portions of the block.

JOSEPH H. WESSON. lVitnesses W31. H. CHAPIN, K. I. CLnMoNs.

